Display device of storage battery

Abstract

A display device of a storage battery for optically displaying a condition of an electrolytic solution stored in a casing of the storage battery comprises a pillar member having a transparent body having one end and other opposite end, the one end of the pillar member being engaged at an upper surface of the casing in a usable state so that the other opposite end thereof projects into the casing. An inclined end surface of the opposite end side thereof is inclined to a side surface of the pillar member at a predetermined angle so that an incident light transmitting from the one end side thereof permeates through the inclined end surface or is reflected thereby according to the condition of the electrolytic solution which is in contact with the inclined end surface. The display device further comprises a display member provided with display surfaces on which the light permeating through the inclined end surface or reflected thereby is projected, the display surfaces being different from each other to optically display the condition of the electrolytic solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device for a storage battery for optically displaying a condition of an electrolytic solution stored in a casing of the storage battery, the device comprising: a pillar member having a transparent body having one end and another opposite end, said one end of the pillar member being engaged at an upper surface of the casing in a usable state so that the other opposite end is projected into the casing, said transparent body of the pillar member having an inclined end surface located on the opposite end side having an inclination to a side surface of the pillar member at a predetermined angle so that an incident light transmitting from one end side thereof permeates through the inclined end surface or is reflected according to a condition of the electrolytic solution which is in contact with the inclined end surface; and   a display member provided with a plurality of display surfaces on which the light permeating through the inclined end surface or reflected thereby is projected, said display surfaces being different from each other to optically display the condition of the electrolytic solution wherein said display member is provided at proximate the one end side of the pillar member.   
     
     
       2. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein each of said display surfaces is colored. 
     
     
       3. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the condition of the electrolytic solution includes at least a specific gravity of the electrolytic solution and a surface level thereof. 
     
     
       4. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle of the inclined end surface is set so that an incident angle of the incident light transmitting from the one end side on the inclined end surface is a predetermined critical angle. 
     
     
       5. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 4, wherein said critical angle is set in accordance with a quality of a material of the pillar member and a characteristic feature of the electrolytic solution. 
     
     
       6. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said inclined end surface is provided with a plurality of inclined surface portions, which are inclined to the side surface of the pillar member at different predetermined angles, respectively. 
     
     
       7. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said inclined end surface has a plurality of stages, which are continuously inclined to the side surface of the pillar member at different predetermined angles, respectively. 
     
     
       8. A display device for a storage battery for optically displaying a condition of an electrolytic solution stored in a casing of the storage battery, the device comprising: a pillar member having a transparent body having one end and another opposite end, said one end of the pillar member being engaged at an upper surface of the casing in a usable state so that the other opposite end thereof is projected into the casing, said other opposite end being formed with a communication hole portion communicated with the electrolytic solution in the casing, through which the electrolytic solution is introduced into the pillar member; and   a specific gravity ball unit disposed in the communication hole portion, said specific gravity ball unit having a predetermined specific gravity and rising and falling along a center axis of the communication hole portion in accordance with at least one of a surface level of the electrolytic solution in the communication hole portion and the specific gravity thereof, wherein said specific gravity ball unit includes a plurality of spherical balls having specific gravities different from each other and being colored in different colors so that the displayed condition of the electrolytic solution is changed in accordance with the rising and lowering movement of each of the spherical balls, said transparent body of the pillar member having an inclined surface located on an opposite end side of the pillar member having an inclination to a side surface of the pillar member at a predetermined angle so as to reflect an incident light transmitting from the one end side thereof totally toward a communication hole portion side so as to optically display the condition of the electrolytic solution.   
     
     
       9. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 8, wherein the displayed condition of the electrolytic solution is changed according to the rising and lowering movement of the specific gravity ball unit. 
     
     
       10. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 8, wherein said communication hole portion is formed substantially at a center portion of the opposite end side of the pillar member. 
     
     
       11. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 8, wherein said specific gravity ball unit is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
       12. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined angle of the inclined surface is set so that an incident angle of the incident light transmitting from the one end side on the inclined end surface is a predetermined critical angle. 
     
     
       13. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 12, wherein said critical angle is set in accordance with a quality of a material of the pillar member and a characteristic feature of the electrolytic solution. 
     
     
       14. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 8, wherein said inclined surface has a plurality of stages which are continuously inclined to the side surface of the pillar member at different predetermined angles, respectively. 
     
     
       15. A display device for a storage battery according to claim 8, further comprising a projecting portion formed so as to project into an upper end portion of the communication hole portion, said projecting portion having a pointed end portion formed to provide a cone shape so as to incline a surface of the pointed end portion at a predetermined angle so that the incident light transmitting from the one end side thereof permeates through the inclined surface of the pointed end portion or is reflected thereby according to the condition of the electrolytic solution which is in contact with the inclined surface thereof.